Curbside = Mine

A few months ago I saw this....shall I say diamond in the rough on the side of the road. I almost passed it by, but its curved back beckoned me. Accelerating on the gas I made a quick flip around the block. Every time a make a road flip my heart starts to beat fast.
What if someone else sees it and picks it up?
What if the owner saw how excited I was and comes outside to take it back?
What if unbeknownst to me there is a parade and the chair is there for a spectator and not for me?

So I rushed back and there it was. Waiting! I quickly picked it up and tossed it into my trunk.

This past weekend  I decided to tackle this project. Underneath the gorgeous wood was one small problem; layers of white paint. The problem is that the white seeped into every crevice making it impossible to get it all off. I had to get creative and take out my oil paints. I smudged some brown into the wood and viola' it hid most of the white. With a couple of coats of stain, and a few more of gloss I was pleased with the end result.

The seat was upholstered in a floral pattern. Not exactly what I had in mind. Since I am somewhat impatient, I wanted this project to be done so I had no time to shop for fabric. I  remembered that I had a couple old coffee burlap bags in the garage. I thought that the burlap would be a nice contrast to the dark stain. When  I turned them inside out the print was so appropriate for my Portuguese household. SOLD! Minutes later I cut the bag in half, and stapled it to the seat.

Now the chair is in my kitchen. I'm inspired to find a few more chairs on my stops. Wouldn't a grouping of different designs and shapes look beautiful around a table? Oh yeah! I'm on the hunt, so watch what you put curbside, because it might find its way into my trunk.

My Head Is Swirling With Sawdust

It's a funny thing, traffic. Sometimes it can be a nuisance and other times a welcome break. Today I was on my way to the sandy shoreline when I found myself in the middle of traffic. I stopped and looked to the right and noticed a little woodworking shop tucked down a driveway. I had never really noticed it before, but since the traffic happily placed me right in front of it I decided to stop and see what it was all about. I'm glad I did. The owner Friedel immediately welcomed me into his studio. He showed me his woodworking paradise and some projects that he was working on. It didn't take long to see that Friedel was an expert in his craft of creating things from wood. His projects range from recreating intricate ball and claw legs, high boy chests, custom tables, boat trailboards, cabinetry, and so many other beautiful works of art. 

Do you have a family heirloom that is just shy a leg or a mate? Do you have a nook that is calling for a specific piece of furniture? If it's made of wood Friedel's workshop should be a "Stop Along Your Way". If you don't have a need, but like me, can't resist antiques and sawdust filled shops, I assure you that you'll delight in a fine conversation with Friedel.


Friedl Brosch 
143 Main Street
Essex, MA 978-768-7486
AFBrosch100@yahoo.com